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Electrical Wiring Other

Electric - breaker trips after 30 minutes

5 years ago

A breaker trips after 30 minutes. All switches and recptacles were replaced in the last 2-4 years. It started about a week ago at 3am. I replaced the breaker but that didn’t resolve the issue. Nothing new has been added to the circuit recently. There are a lot of of two way and thfee way switches on this circuit but nothing new. The only other thing I can think of it there must be a loose wire on one of the switches and I’ve checked about half so far.

does anyone have any other ideas

Featured Answer

DavidR

5 years ago

When a standard breaker trips after a period of time, it usually means that its circuit is slightly overloaded, carrying current somewhat above the breaker's rating.

Is the breaker a GFI or AFCI type?

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Comments (9)

cory_cregger
Original Author
5 years ago
its the $8 replacement from Home Depot - i don’t see it labeled on the breaker. the house was built in 1989 before a lot of the codes changed. the kitchen is not on the circuit and only a bathroom light so I assume GFI. It’s odd that it randomly went out since nothing was added to the circuit.

Any recommendations?
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mtvhike
5 years ago
You say it's a replacement, so it's not original, right? When was it replaced? If it's not a GFI or AFI one (does it have any reset buttons on it?) then your cheapest solution is to get a new one and try it out. Do you know how to replace it?
cory_cregger
Original Author
5 years ago
I replaced it - That was the first thing I tried. It’s still tripping around 30 mins
Matthew
5 years ago
So only one bathroom light is on this circuit? To determine if there is a short in the cable some place disconnect the circuit. Use a multimeter to check any ohms reading between black and white or black and ground. Make sure light switch is off or light bulb unplugged or that will give a incorrect reading.
DavidR
5 years ago
You say "There are a lot of of two way and thfee way switches on this circuit," but also "the kitchen is not on the circuit and only a bathroom light." Which is it?

Does the breaker feel at all warm when it trips? Even slightly?

How does the buss bar the breaker plugs onto look? Any corrosion or discoloration? Do you hear any unusual noises from the panel near that breaker, such as humming or hissing?

How old is your panel? What brand?

See if you can borrow a clamp ammeter to measure the actual current being drawn from the breaker.

If the breaker cost $8, it's not a GFI or AFCI type.

Changing a breaker is usually a waste of time and money. They just don't fail that often, especially non-GFI and non-AFI breakers. I don't recommend replacing one without being certain it was defective. One way to test a breaker is to swap its wire onto the adjacent breaker. If the symptom follows the wire, it's not the breaker.
mtvhike
5 years ago
Sorry, cory, I didn't read your original post carefully enough. Have you discovered all the circuits which are on this breaker? If you turn them all off, does the breaker still trip? If the answers are "yes", then I think you'll have to open the boxes, one at a time, and disconnect the incoming wire and redo the test. As DavidR says, it might be a heavy load; if you can find a clamp-on current meter, then when the boxes are open, measure the current.
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Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Call a qualified, licensed electrician to troubleshoot shoot this. Don’t run the risk of a fire inside your walls to save a few bucks.
kudzu9
5 years ago
Could be a circuit which is near capacity and it trips from the load placed on it when the refrigerator kicks on (which is a momentary large current draw). You could test this by temporarily unplugging the refrigerator and seeing if the breaker still trips.

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